Willie Mullins Stable Tour: ‘I’m looking forward to him more than any horse in years’ 😱

Willie Mullins’ stable tour came out in the Racing Post this week and it’s a good one. The County Carlow-based maestro can be somewhat tight-lipped but he could be in for an even better season than last time around. This idea would strike fear into the hearts of the other top trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea. Mullins has been particularly vocal and we’ve picked out the three most fascinating reports from his star-packed yard. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

‘I think he looks a real Arkle type’

El Fabiolo narrowly came off worse in a prolonged duel up the straight with Jonbon at Aintree before going on to score in a lesser race at Punchestown. The Aintree effort was particularly impressive as it was just his third start over hurdles. His trainer believes he could be one for the top novice chases this season. Mullins said: ‘I think he looks a real Arkle type. He could be a lovely novice chaser.’

‘Like his mother, he’s a natural’

Facile Vega was an awesome bumper horse last season and Mullins fully expects the same as he prepares to go over hurdles. The champion trainer remarked: ‘Over the past few years I haven’t seen a horse that I’m looking forward to as much as Facile Vega.’ Mullins also alluded to his potential Cheltenham Festival targets, he added: ‘with the turn of foot he showed in bumpers he’d be a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle horse. With his pedigree, he can go out to be a Ballymore horse.’ This is some praise when bearing in mind the legions of awesome horses to hail from Closutton in recent years.

‘He could be an outstanding staying novice hurdler’

Grangeclare West won his sole point at Lingstown which has thrown up plenty of rules winners. Impressively scored in a Punchestown bumper in his only start for Mullins last May. Despite the fact that he hasn’t been seen since, he retains plenty of potential according to Mullins. His trainer said: ‘We didn’t get to run him after winning a bumper on his first start for us at Punchestown. […] I think he could be an outstanding staying novice hurdler this season.’ A son of Presenting, he could be one to look out for in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

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